[tag]Kenn Kasparek[/tag] pitched six strong innings but the offense couldn’t get going and Texas dropped the opening game of regional play to St. John’s 2-1. The team now must win three in the row to advance to the Super Regionals.

The game was tied going into the top of the 9th inning when relief pitcher [tag]Cole Green[/tag] mishandled a ball hit back to the mound. He recovered on the play but first baseman [tag]Brandon Belt[/tag] couldn’t handle the throw and the St. John’s batter reached safely. Three batters later he scored the winning run as Texas failed to turn a inning ending double play.

Head coach [tag]Augie Garrido[/tag] looked crushed by the loss in the post game press conference. I get the feeling that if this team gets swept out of the tournament he might call it a career.

The team takes on Sam Houston St. in an elimination game today at 2pm.

Texas (37-20) vs. St. John’s (42-14)

When: Friday, May 30, 2008, 2 p.m. CentralWhere: Houston, Texas (Reckling Park)TV: noneRadio: KVET 1300 AM “The Zone”Internet Video: Watch Friday’s game live on riceowls.cstv.com.Internet Audio: Game will be streamed live on 1300 The Zone.Live stats: Available at ncaasports.cstv.com.

Series Breakdown

All-Time Series: Series tied 1-1First Meeting: 6/22/1949; a 7-1 Texas win in Wichita*Last Meeting: 6/14/1966; a 2-0 St. John’s win in Omaha*Streak: St. John’s won the last meetingGarrido vs. St. John’s: First Meeting

The Texas baseball team blew a big lead against the Sooners in the 7th inning but rallied back in the bottom of the 9th to win it. The win makes the Horns 2-1 in the Big 12 Baseball Championships and they’re now headed to the title game thanks to a Texas A&M win over Missouri.

Once up by 5 runs, the Longhorns had to score 3 in the last frame to win 11-10. Shortstop [tag]David Hernandez[/tag] singled up the middle to score [tag]Brandon Belt[/tag] and win the game. Texas starter [tag]Kenn Kasparek[/tag] pitched well before losing it in the 7th. Pitcher [tag]Keith Shinaberry[/tag] got one out in the 9th but was credited with the win.

The team will play for the Big 12 title Sunday against either Oklahoma State or Kansas State. The game will be at 1pm on FSN Southwest.

Kasparek’s no-no is the 20th is Texas history, the last one was throw by Adrian Alaniz over the Oklahoma Sooners in April 2005. I saw Beau Hale’s no hitter over Sam Houston State in person on February 11, 2000. It was a special experience being there in person, so hopefully there was a full house at Disch-Falk Field to see Kasparek’s performance today.

A couple of quick notes. Texas signee Brandon Workman (rhp, Bowie HS) was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft. [tag]Kyle Russell[/tag] and [tag]Bradley Suttle[/tag] were drafted in the 4th round. They only got through the first 5 rounds of the draft yesterday; more Horns will be drafted today.

Major League Baseball has changed their “draft and follow” rule. In the past, a team could draft a player and then take up to 51 weeks to sign him…and no other team could come knockin’ on the door during those 51 weeks. So, they could draft a player, encourage him to play another year of college ball, watch his progress, and then decide. All the while safe in the knowledge that if they wanted to sign the player, they had a year to do so. The new rule states that the teams only have until August 15th to sign a player, except for college seniors. I think the change will mean more draftees from the later rounds will go ahead and sign. But, maybe not. Some people think the rule change will mean that teams will draft fewer players. The draft goes 50 rounds. In the past, 4 or 5 teams would drop out as the draft got into the later rounds. But, most would draft all the way through to the end since teams had so long to evaluate talent. The new rule may mean they won’t bother drafting some players they would’ve drafted in the past.

If I’m able, I’ll update this post as the draft progresses today.

Update (2 pm). [tag]Randy Boone[/tag] was drafted in the 7th by Toronto; [tag]Adrian Alaniz[/tag] in the 8th by Washington; signee Taylor Grote (cf, The Woodlands) in the 8th by the Yankees; and signee Runey Davis (cf, Georgetown) in the 11th by Pittsburgh.

Update (5 pm). [tag]James Russell[/tag] was drafted in the 14th by the Cubs; [tag]Joseph Krebs[/tag] in the 14th by Cincinnati; [tag]Chance Wheeless[/tag] in the 17th by Arizona; [tag]Nick Peoples[/tag] (as a second baseman, apparently) in the 19th by St. Louis; and signee Kevin Keyes (rf, Connally HS) in the 26th by the Rangers.

Update (6 pm). [tag]Preston Clark[/tag] was drafted in the 33rd by the Cubs; [tag]Kenn Kasparek[/tag] (who was recovering from Tommy John surgery and did not play this year) in the 34th by Washington; signee Garrett Clyde (rhp, San Jacinto College) in the 43rd by the Cubs; signee Cameron Rupp (c, Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano) in the 43rd by Pittsburgh; and [tag]Clay Van Hook[/tag] in the 45th by Seattle.